Vehicle suspension.



E. W. SERRELL. IEHlCLE SUSPENSION. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 16; 1914.

1,1 88,685. Patented June 27, 1916.

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INVENTOR" Edward William SerreZL flaw Br I I ATTORNEY WI TNESSES E. W.SERRELL.

VEHICLE SUSPENSION.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 16, 1914.

\ Patented June 27, 1916..

INVEN T00 WI TNESSES flaw Edward mzzmmsermzz STATES PATENT omen. v

EDWARD WILLIAM SERRELL, 0F CHABEUIL, FRANCE.

VEHICLE SUSPENSION.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD WILLIAM SERRELL, acitizen of the United States, at present residing in Chabeuil, France,(whose post-oflice address is Pearl River, Rockland county, New York,)have invented a new and useful Improvement in Vehicle Suspentions, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to resilient means of suspension for the bodiesof vehicles.

One object of the invention is to produce an improved suspending meanscapable of controlling progressively the action ofthe springs or otherresilient media employed, toofi'set vibrations and shocks of all sorts,irrespective of variation in the loads carried. Another object is toavoid synchromsm or cumulation of osc'llationsin both the suspending andsuspended parts, together with such disadvantages as result therefrom.

The invention involves the use of a rocker and a leaf-spring, combinedin such a manner that a progressive resistance is ofiered by the formerto a continued flexure of the latter, so that the lighter vibrations arethereby obliterated, while the heavier shocks do not cause any greaterdisplacements than are foreseen in designing the construction. Inpractice, the most suitable curve for flexing the spring, and alongwhich it progressively develops its resistance, is not always the' same,and varies considerably in accordance with the weight and dimensions ofthe vehicle, the loads carried by the latter, and its normal speed oftravel. Consequently, it is useful to possess a practical means wherebythe curve of resistance to flexure may be varied beyond the usuallimits. Besides, in every system of suspension, it is advantageous toreduce as much as possible that part of the weight which is notsuspended, and so to dispose the greatest part of the aggregate weightthat the inertia of its mass will tend to bring the springs into play.Often, it is also useful to have the-spring of a vehicle effectivelylonger than is permitted by the forms of springs hitherto used areemployed. p

In many instances, especially in the case of automobiles, it is usefulto maintain a constant distance between the axle and one of the twopoints of attachment of the spring or system of suspension. For example,the steering of an automobile is in- Specification of Letters Patent.

obstacles in the structure when.

displaced springs. As

terfered with if thefront axle be owing to the action of the the rearsprings, they are frequently used then acting as an organ of suspenslon,a

thrust rod, and a strut. In the manufacture of automobiles, the frame orchassis with all its organs is generally constructed in accordance witha uniform series of designs and carries the means of suspension' Thecoach body or tonneau, on the other hand, is of varying form, andsometimes its weight differs from that for which the springs weredesigned. Then it becomes useful, even with progressively-actingsprings, to have a means of adjustment enabling the vehicle to beproperly seated when the body thereof is applied. Finally, in order toincrease the sensitiveness of a'system of suspension, it is sometimes ofbenefit (especially when remodeling a previously built vehicle) to adaptthereto auxiliary suspending means in combination with a main spring.

The several desirable features of construction above outlined will befound to have been incorporated in the improved resilientsuspendingmeans forming the subject-mat- Patented June 27, 1916.

Application fi ledjlune 16, 1914. Serial No. 845,374.

the present invention as an which is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation, showing the combinedrocker and spring aforesaid adapted for use in connection with the rearaxle of an automobile of the type in which the spring passes under theaxle, and where the suspension is utilized as a thrust rod,counterbalancing the reaction of the motor upon the wheels. Fig. 2 showsa device similar to the preceding, but adaptable to types of vehicleswherein the rear springs pass above the axle, and also modified in otherrespects. Figs. 3 to 6, inclusive, illustratemore or lessdiagrammatically some relative or interrelated movements of the saidrocker and spring in varying conditions.

Referring to Fig. 1, the numerals "11 and 12 respectively represent thesaid rocker and spring, and 13, 14, designate the outer ends thereof, towhich the vehicle body is attached. The end 13 of the rocker affords abearing for a swivel (not shown) permitting movement of the suspendedbody at an angle with relation to the vehicle axle 15, to which therocker is connected by an L-shaped support 16, forming part of thelatter. The end 14 of the spring is jointed to the vehicle body by links17, in the usual manner.

The rocker 11, as shown in Fig. 1, has two branches and in fact isanappendage of the axle 15. But there is provided a vacant space orclearance under the axle to allow free oscillation of the spring 12,which is securely attached at the inner end to the longer than canbeemployed with the disis near the ter adapted position of elementsfollowed heretofore, with the same obstacles encountered in thestructure, and more flexible according to strains and reactions.

It is to be noted that if the axle 15 is swiftly raised by the wheel ofthe vehicle, as the result of a sudden shock, this movement of the axlemeets with no resistance which is inelastic and direct. When such amovement takes place, the inertia of the whole mass of the rocker andspring which lies on the side of the part 13 relatively to the axletends to render such masses immovable in space; hence .a tendency torevolve about the axle 15 as a center. This tendency to rotate isresisted by the combined act-ion of the spring and rocker in a mannerwhich is quite apparent upon inspection of the drawing. Once the partsare in movement, the action is that of a spring which is very long .andhas the flexibility, period and curve of resistance-that would have beengiven to it by construction and displacing the lines of contact betweenthe spring and the rocker. But this setting in motion, at the time ashock occurs, does not have the instantaneity nor the violence attendingthe beginning of movement of an ordinary spring, and a large portion ofthe mass of the spring, and rocker tends by its inertia to deaden themovement, whereas in an ordinary spring the bulk thereof (which axle andthe heavier part) is practically integral with the axle, and through itsment takes place, tends to transmit this movement to the suspended partsof the vehicle. The result gained from that difference of operation, isthat the suspending means, while resisting severe shocks in asubstantially perfect manner, are much betthan any other known systemfor the absorption and checking of light vibrations, thus affording asoft and smooth acquired speed, when a move-v axle of a vehicle,

medium of suspension for the vehicle greatly superior to what isordinarily obtained.

The main parts hereinbefore enumerated are also found in Fig. 2, thoughof slightly different form. Practically, the only difference ofconstruction of the device, as exemplified in this view, is that therocker 11 rests upon the axle 15, instead of being suspended therefromas represented in Fig. l, but both forms of the rocker, it Will'beobserved, are carried by the axle and intermediately fulcrumed foroscillation about its longitudinal axis or middle longitudinal line. Theposition of the spring 12' naturally follows that of the rocker 11' inFig. 2, above the axle. The relative height of the parts is alsoadjusted by different means. Instead of the swivel bearing part 13,previously described, the latter-named figure includes a jointed part13, having a second knuckle 13", turned at relatively to the first andadapted for an inclined movement. The height of the rocker ishere'regulated by means of a screw-rod 21-and nuts 22, in an obviousmanner.

In order to increase the sensitiveness of the suspension, either of thesystem herein set forth or of the ordinar system, the present inventioncould be easily embodied therein also as an auxiliary suspending means,to fill the office of small shock-absorbers, frequently used at the endsof the main springs. To do this, it is suflicient to equip these smallsupplementary springs with rockers of suitable form, as will be readilycomprehended without further explanation.

I claim:

1. The combination with the frame and axle of a vehicle, of arocker-intermediately fulcrumed so as to oscillate about the axle in asubstantially constant relation, and resilient suspending meansconnected with said rocker at one end and with the frame at the otherend, the rocker being jointed to the frame inwardly of the axle andprojecting outwardly of the latter under said suspending means. i

2. The combination with the frame and axle of a vehicle, of a rockerflexibly attached to the frame at one end and fulcrumed on the axle nearits other end, a spring connected with said rocker at one side of theaxle, and means suspending the frame from said spring on the oppositeside of the axle.

3. The combination with the frame and axle of a vehicle, of a rockerjointed to the frame and fulcrumed on the axle, a spring having'one endadjustably connected with said rocker intermediately thereof, a wedgeunder said spring end, and a suspending connection between the frame andthe other end of said spring permitting the latter to be flexed againstthe .rocker. I

4:. The combination with oscillation about the middle longitudinal lineof the axle, means affording a flexible joint for one end of said rockerwith the frame, the other end of the rocker extending beyond the axle, aspring attached by one end to the rocker intermediately of its saidjoint and its fulcrum, and a connection between the other end of saidspring and the frame.

5. The combination with the frame and axle of a vehicle, of a rockerintermediately oscillatable about the axle, a swiveling connectionbetween one end of said rocker and the frame, a spring secured to therocker on one side of the axle and means on the other side, of the axlefor connecting the frame with said spring.

6. The combination with an axle and a vehicle frame, of a rocker and aleaf-spring arranged to lap transversely of theaxle so as to permit themto bear jointly upon the latter at their inner ends, and suspendingmeans for the frame connected with the outer ends of said rocker andsaid leafspring. I 7 The combination with the frame and axle of avehicle, of a rocker and a spring lapped so as to enable them to bearone upon the other at their inner ends in a longitudinal direction,means flexibly joining the outer ends'of said rocker and said spring tothe frame, and a fulcrum permitting flexme of the spring upon theroc erabout the axle.

In witness whereof I have signed this I

